Lillard said there was nothing he regretted about saying it back then, and he said he hasn’t held back in subsequent years. He noted that perspective he’s gained in his eight NBA seasons. “I’m just older,” Lillard said. “It’s not impossible for me to think we suck, but I just better see what can be now. Even then I felt like we were going to be fine … and now, I feel like we are going to be cool. I mean, it’s such a long season. And we’ve won 13 games in a row before. And, things can’t go much worse. They just can’t go much worse.”
It has been interesting to watch how …
It has been interesting to watch how Lillard and CJ McCollum have led this team in the first month. Publicly, they have mostly preached patience and confidence, and as a result a calm and assured tone permeates the locker room. But privately, McCollum assures the players have heard much worse than “suck” from their leaders. “To (the media), we are always positive,” McCollum said. “Behind closed doors, there is probably more sense of urgency than we let on. Because that’s how you have to be — you can’t panic, especially in front of everyone.
Tom Orsborn: Carlisle on Doncic: “This …
Tom Orsborn: Carlisle on Doncic: “This guy can do anything he wants to on a basketball court. He is having one of those magical runs right now. It is a phenomenal thing to watch and a phenomenal thing to be a part of. His teammates and I were all just along for the ride here.”
That hasn’t been true of late, and on …
That hasn’t been true of late, and on Monday, the All-Star swingman proved that for the first time as a member of the LA Clippers. In his third game back from offseason surgeries on both of his shoulders, George beat his old team in the final seconds. He buried a catch-and-shoot, go-ahead 3 off a curl with 25.9 seconds left before adding a free throw late to lift the Clippers to a 90-88 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder at Staples Center. “You know, there was a big thing about [how I] can’t make it to win games,” George said. “That stuff doesn’t bother me. I am out there to play hard and to win games. I feel confident in every shot that I take. It’s up to me to make it or miss it. That type of stuff don’t bother me.”
Two days after playoff win, Texas coach has emergency surgery for abdominal pain
Brownwood is marching on in the Texas UIL state playoffs, but they’ll have to survive and advance without second-year coach Sammy Burnett.
There’s good news and bad news for the Brownwood (Texas) High School football team.
First, the school’s good news: It’s still alive in the ongoing Texas state playoffs! Now, the bad: Moving forward, it will have to survive and advance without its second-year star coach, Sammy Burnett.
Burnett, who led the Lions to a 10-1 record and the second round of the UIL 4A Div. I playoffs, underwent emergency surgery that began Sunday night and finished Monday at Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene, per Texas ABC affiliate KTXS.
[protected-iframe id=”1003042c82d5f7d746df3a7c169b2859-65907669-66045993″ info=”http://sinclairstoryline.com/resources/embeds/jw8-embed.html?client=googima&file=https://content.uplynk.com/9f4b3fb6af884de6b973f0d477afaa4b.m3u8&autostart=false” width=”640″ height=”360″]
While it’s unknown how long Burnett will be out of action, it is known that he’ll miss Friday’s second round matchup against Alvarado (Texas) High School.
Brownwood assistant coach David Jones told KTXS he will lead the team in Burnett’s stead, both on Friday and for as long as needed in the playoffs.
Forecaddie: The best Tuesday night on Tour? TMOF says it’s dinner at Davis’s
The best PGA Tour pro-am draw party is at the RSM Classic, where Davis Love III pitches a tent in his backyard.
As far as The Man Out Front is concerned, the best Tuesday night meal of the golf year isn’t the Champions Dinner at Augusta National. That may be the most coveted invite, but The Forecaddie can attest that it doesn’t get much better than the RSM Classic’s pro-am draw party hosted in a tent in the backyard of former U.S. Ryder Cup captain and World Golf Hall of Famer Davis Love III.
This is the 10th year Love has played host to more than 250 of his newest and closest friends willing to fork over $8,000, or $22,000 for a threesome, for the opportunity to play in the tournament pro-am on Wednesday. There’s nothing else on the PGA Tour quite like a night under the oaks feasting on the best low-country cuisine that can be had at DL3’s digs, A.K.A. Sinclair Plantation. So, how did this become a tradition like none other? As Love tells it, we have John Linen to thank – not the Beatle, but the former vice chairman of American Express.
“He wanted to do special outings at Sea Island. I said, ‘Why not just have them over to my house,’ ” Love tells TMOF. “When he said he was talking about 100 people, I said, ‘We’ll put a tent outside.’ He said, ‘Really?’ I told him, ‘What would be better than telling your clients they’re having a dinner party at our house?’ When we pitched RSM, we told them it would be an intimate affair like the old Callaway Gardens (Southern Open) and the Crosby Clambake (AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am) with southern hospitality. It started out with a normal pro-am of 40 teams and has grown to 80.”
Word spread and Love’s backyard has hosted everything from weddings to the annual Blue Jean Ball for the Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia. It’s become a great way to raise money for charity, he says.
“A guy with Insulate America came to the draw party and decided he wanted to have his company party here,” Love says. “He offered to donate $50,000 to the Davis Love Foundation. How could I say no to that? He’s become one of our partners at the RSM Classic.”
At this point, the tournament could change courses and hear less complaints than if it moved the draw party from the Love’s backyard. There’s only one problem – Love’s house is on the market.
“What are we going to do if it actually sells?” Love says.
He’s already thought of the perfect solution: “I think the tournament should buy it and lease it to me.”
[lawrence-related id=778012210,778007332,778006747]
Zac Taylor dismisses idea of going back to Andy Dalton over Ryan Finley
Zac Taylor won’t go back to Andy Dalton.
[jwplayer 512cLlwc]
Zac Taylor is focused on this week, and according to the Cincinnati Bengals head coach himself, this week is still about Ryan Finley.
The fourth-round rookie playing in place of Andy Dalton has a two-game sample on his resume now and given the results, it has been fair to wonder if the Bengals might go back to the veteran.
Monday, Taylor shot the idea down while talking with the media: “Ryan is our starter this week against Pittsburgh, and I have a hard time looking beyond that. He’s going to give us an opportunity to win this week.”
Later, he noted the growing pains weren’t unexpected:
“…I see enough really encouraging things from him, whether it’s his preparation over the course of the week, how he’s practicing, the difference between week two to week one, in a lot of those areas. You can see his confidence starting to grow. Now he’s playing difference styles of defenses each week.”
From the beginning, it always sounded like Finley was going to get a full eight games to show what he can do.
But two games into the switch, it is only understandable that questions have come up. Finley completed 13 of 31 attempts in Oakland and now sits on a 47.5 completion percentage with one touchdown and two interceptions over two games.
For now, Taylor sounds like he’s taking this on a game-by-game basis. A Pittsburgh defense awaits next weekend.
[vertical-gallery id=24592]
6 waiver wire pickups in fantasy football for Week 12
Fantasy football waiver wire targets for Week 12.
Last week in the NFL we saw more injuries pile up, more players come out of nowhere and even more surprising matchups across the board in fantasy football. By now, guys have either proven themselves to be reliable or their inconsistency has landed them on the bench or dropped altogether.
As trade deadlines come and go, the waiver wire continues to be a vital part of a playoff run in fantasy football.
With four teams on a bye (Cardinals, Chiefs, Chargers, Vikings), here are six waiver wire pickups for Week 12.
RB Jonathan Williams: <1% rostered (ESPN)
With Jordan Wilkins still out (ankle) and Marlon Mack suffering a broken hand in Indy’s 33-13 win against Jacksonville on Sunday, the Colts needed someone to step up big in the run game. Williams fit the bill.
He finished the day with 13 carries for 116 yards and also added a huge reception for 31 yards. With a short week before the Colts travel to Houston to face the Texans, the Colts do not have much time to get healthy. Williams and fellow back Nyheim Hines will carry the workload in the backfield for the time being.
Bill Belichick jokingly makes remark about Rob Gronkowski’s ‘big announcement’
Bill Belichick’s responses to the media lately have included plenty of humor.
Bill Belichick has been full of jokes lately. He likely took a shot at Lane Johnson in regards to his comment saying that the New England Patriots don’t have fun, and he made some comical remarks regarding Julian Edelman’s touchdown pass in Week 11.
The most recent comment that he made was in regards to Rob Gronkowski’s ‘big announcement’ that’s set for Tuesday morning at 9:00 a.m. ET.
Belichick was asked about the announcement on WEEI’s “Ordway, Merloni & Fauria”, and gave a hilarious answer.
“Yeah, I’m sure my phone will be ringing off the hook with all the alerts I have on it,” Belichick said jokingly. “I’m sure it will be crazy.”
Gronkowski retired from the NFL after last season and has sent mixed signals on whether or not he’d stay retired. It’s very likely that Gronkowski is going to announce a career move, and that he won’t make his comeback to the league.
If Gronkowski were to make a return, he’d have to report to the team before Nov. 30. Belichick and the Patriots will likely move on this season without Gronkowski on the field, but, there is a small window to hope for his NFL return.
[vertical-gallery id=72662]
The morning after a Chiefs Week 11 victory
Grab your morning cup of coffee as we recap and react to the Chiefs’ Week 11 win over the Chargers.
Grab a cup of coffee and join us as we start off our seventh Victory Monday (Tuesday) of the season, Chiefs Kingdom!
Every morning following a Kansas City Chiefs win or loss, a few of our writers here at Chiefs Wire will provide their post-game thoughts and quips. It’ll let you know how we’re all feeling about the Chiefs after covering them on gameday. Gather around and be sure to share your thoughts on the Chiefs with us on Facebook and Twitter.
Charles Goldman
Twitter: @goldmctNFL
The Chiefs needed a win and they got a win. It wasn’t the prettiest win, but I think it was an important one nonetheless. Not because of the playoff implications necessarily, but to see the defense step up into the driver seat and slam the door shut on this game. They waited until the last minute to do it, but they still did it. They allowed no points scored on four consecutive punts by the struggling Chiefs’ offense.
Sometimes you’re not going to fire on all cylinders and have each phase of the game working right. To be able to grind out a win relying on a unit that has really failed to provide much spark all season, well, it gives new life to this team down the stretch. The best part is they get to relish in it for a week before heading back to Arrowhead Stadium to face the Oakland Raiders.
Mitch Carney
Twitter: @MitchMitchcar11
It wasn’t the dominant win that Chiefs’ fans wanted over a division rival, but this was a great win for the Chiefs as they go into their bye week. The offense had a rough game, but it was enough to get the job done. I think the offense should be given a break because so many times the offense has had to carry the defense the last two seasons. I know the offense isn’t going to be the reason why we lose when the playoffs start, so it’s ok that they had a bad game and had to rely on the defense.
The defense maybe had their best game of the season forcing Philip Rivers to throw four interceptions. I’m not sold that it’s going to last. We thought that the defense turned around after the Vikings game, so they are going to have to perform for a couple more games before I get excited about that group.
I did like what Frank Clark was able to do though. Clark was dominant and I think he is finally getting over his neck injury and isn’t playing “soft” anymore. I am really excited to see if he can do it again against the Raiders after the bye.
Max Ramsey
Twitter: @The_Wild_Chief
Man, that was a stressful game. It seems like that is always the outcome when the Chiefs and Chargers play against each other. Clearly there were issues in that game on both sides of the ball, but for now, I’m just looking at the positives.
Patrick Mahomes may not have lit up the stat sheet in the passing game, but he certainly looked like the Mahomes of 2018 with his legs. He moved around with confidence in the backfield and when the play broke down in key situations, he managed to break off some big runs to keep drives alive in crucial spots.
Defensively it was the kind of game I wanted to see. Spagnuolo looked like he understood exactly where their strength was in this matchup, and that was pressuring Rivers. On several plays, you could see that he went with heavy blitz packages basically forcing Rivers to throw the ball quick. Sometimes it worked in his favor for some big plays, but overall it paid off with four interceptions on the day. I love the high risk-high reward style of defense and cant wait to see how they choose to play after the bye week.
Nicolas Roesch
Twitter: @Nicolas_Roesch
I have to give the Chiefs credit for winning an ugly game. Unfortunately, the same issues are lingering over them. Kansas City is committing too many penalties, have issues with ball security and cannot put away teams in the fourth quarter. Four straight punts in a one-possession game are inexcusable. Because of these issues, I still have my doubts as to whether the Chiefs can get to the Super Bowl. I cannot dismiss them, however, because there is still plenty of time left in the season to take things up a notch.
The bye week has truly arrived at the perfect time and could give not only the players a much need rest but the coaching staff the opportunity to figure out solutions to the issues holding this team back.
Danilo Di Julio
Twitter: @ThunderDan88
How about those Chiefs? After being much maligned for allowing an average of 148 yards per game on the ground, Kansas City’s defenders held the Chargers to 93 total yards rushing. Digging deeper, Kansas City went 3-1 versus the Chargers, Vikings, Packers and Broncos giving up an average of 94.5 rushing yards per game. It seems they have a better shot at winning when they can limit the ground game.
The needle is absolutely pointing up for this Chiefs defense who tonight added interceptions to the menu taking away four from the Chargers, and it could’ve been more if Kansas City didn’t gift Philip Rivers a few drops. Enjoy the win and the bye Chiefs Kingdom. We’ll see you in two weeks at Arrowhead Stadium for Raiders Week. Go Chiefs!